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“You know what you are?” I smiled. “A piece of hair stuck to my tongue that I can’t get bloody rid of.”

“And you know what you are? A little cockroach. No matter what, you keep crawling back to me for more.”

“Little? Have you seen the size of you?”

Leo burst into laughter and had to excuse himself from the table, but I barely noticed it. I was too focused on her and she was too.

She gasped. “I’m still growing and one day I’ll be taller than you.”

“Fat chance,” I mocked. “You know what makes a good comeback?”

“What?”

“Something realistic.”

“God below.” She shook her head. “I swear, Cinth–”

“Don’t call me Cinth.”

She spat a curse at me.

I squinted at her, licking my front teeth. “Say that again.” When she didn’t, I grabbed the knife on the table, gripping onto it. “Say that to my face again, Reaper.”

Niko was quick to snatch the knife out of my hand. “Alright, I think it may be time we go.”

Silias glared at Reaper. “I didn’t raise you to have such a foul mouth.

” His sudden change of attitude was unnerving as he turned back to Niko and me with a large, charming smile.

“I am so sorry that Celestine has been such a troublemaker to Hyacinth. I promise I will have her punished accordingly.”

I was the only one who saw Reaper roll her eyes, the others shifted uncomfortably. This whole thing… did she plan for us to bicker in front of al l of them? Why?

“There’s really no need,” Niko reassured. “I’m sure it was actually Hyacinth who pissed her off to start with.” He gave me a warning look. “He can really get under people’s skin.”

Did he just not see that Reaper started it?

“No, if Celestine’s behaviour isn’t fixed, where will it end? She should not be starting or continuing fights, of course unless I tell her to.” He erupted into laughter and the table joined him, but it almost felt forced.

Niko immediately stood up with trembling hands.

I’ve only ever seen him scared of one person before, but Ender’s dead.

“Hyacinth will train Celestine.” He looked at his watch.

“But I’m afraid we must leave, we have some things to take care of.

” I didn’t even care that I didn’t finish my food, wanting to get out of here as soon as possible.

Silias put his hand up. “Of course, Nikodemus, and don’t worry, I got the bill.”

Niko smiled and bowed. He doesn’t bow to anyone. “Thank you, Silias. We’ll talk soon.”

I followed Niko out of the restaurant.

“Don’t speak yet,” he told me as we passed a few men in red hats standing around and outside the restaurant.

When we walked a safe distance away he looked at me.

“Cinth,” he began, sharply. “You know Silias as the leader of the Kokkino clan, the most powerful clan in this city.”

I waited for him to continue.

“There’s a reason I never wanted you to see Silias anymore or allowed you to take jobs from him. You know why he’s the most feared person in the city?”

“Because he’s rich and has a lot of people under him,” I guessed in a bored manner.

“Because he has no limits.”

“I know,” I muttered. It’s one of the reasons why I never could find any respect for him.

“Then can you imagine what he’s doing to Celestine? ”

I didn’t really want to think about it. She was a bit off, but I didn’t realise it was because of Silias. Though it seemed like she wanted to start a fight with me in front of him and get in trouble for it. Why would she want that?

“You need to be careful around Silias. If there is one person you should fear, it is him.” Niko sighed. “Do you understand?”

I nodded.

“He betrayed his entire clan and killed Ender, Cinth.” His eyes lowered, still grieving over it after all these years. “Ender.”

I didn’t respond.

Rumour said guilt of being one of the last four Demons to survive the Reckoning consumed Ender and he broke into a rage of madness, killing the majority of his inner circle and the staff that resided in the estate.

Silias and Oremus were forced to kill him, or he'd have continued his rampage on the entire city.

I’ve heard all the theories and Niko was convinced Silias purposefully murdered Ender for power.

In the years I had known Silias, we only trained.

I never took the time to actually get to know him, so I couldn’t make a proper judgement of him.

I knew Ender quite well, and I knew he didn’t go insane.

He couldn't have. Ender was one of the few people who was able to earn my respect, the one I looked up to.

One of the only people in the world I had genuinely feared at times.

Demons have incredible strength, especially adults, able to shift into their true form. So, I have no idea how Oremus and Silias were able to kill Ender.

“So, Celestine’s the girl you were talking about earlier, isn’t it?”

I nodded.

“Next time you see her at school, please be nicer to her, not out of pity, but because I know you are a good person.” I don’t know why he believes that, I know what I am and I’m not ashamed of it .

I let out a deep breath.

“Cinth.”

“Fine,” I finally said, not wanting to argue any more.

We began walking again, Niko breaking the silence. “Do you know who her parents are?”

“Why does that matter?” I muttered.

“Answer the question, Cinth,” he snapped.

I groaned. “She’s a Vicary.”

Daughter of Delilah Vicary, one of the most famous and iconic supermodels to walk this city, who easily married into wealth because of her looks.

She received a lot of scrutiny from her affair and was forced to retire, still barely able to leave her home without getting spat at.

Infidelity was not uncommon in Soulesity, but when you're the city's beloved and most watched couple, it hurts the people too.

“And her father?”

Celestine looked nothing like Ren Vicary. People would have asked questions and speculated, regardless if they had come clean or not.

I shrugged, shoving my hands in my pockets. “How should I know?” I rubbed my fingers against my lighter, needing a bloody smoke, but Reaper kept pick-pocketing my cigarettes and throwing them away.

“I thought you were perceptive.” We finally found Niko’s car, and he unlocked it.

“What are you on about?” I asked, when we climbed inside.

He shook his head. “Gods, why did you have to lose your memory?”

I licked the front of my teeth. “I didn’t ask for it.”

He started the car and our journey home, releasing a breath. “I know, Cinth.” His voice soft now.